You don't see mobile food trucks at events, fairs and festivals inside the city limits of Mandeville, but that could soon change.The City Council is expected to take up an ordinance Thursday at a meeting that will focus on food trucks and their presence in the city."Well, I think (it) sounds like a fun idea, as long as they clean up after themselves and put out lots of garbage cans for the people," Christina Rees said as she walked her dog near the Mandeville beach."Yes, definitely. Definitely on the special events. We need plenty, plenty trucks," Cindie Cook said as she watched her grandson Clayton enjoy the lakefront playground.Most people are accustomed to seeing the mobile food trucks at local events, and a handful of local businesses, including a couple of restaurants, would like to have that opportunity in Mandeville.With outlets in Mandeville and Covington, Coffee Rani operates a mobile food truck from its Covington location. The truck handles everything from school lunches to festivals. They'd like the opportunity to expand into Mandeville.Lisa Miller manages Cofe Rani in Covington."The food truck is a phenomenal vehicle for us," Miller said. "We're able to go to businesses. We went to the parades and we were able, during Mardi Gras, to serve multiple dishes and a lot of people.""I want to make it clear that this is not an everyday use in Mandeville, that we expect food trucks to come up on the lakefront or any part of Mandeville and start serving food," Mandeville Mayor Donald Villere said. "This is more in conjunction with special events."Food trucks would not be allowed within 500 feet of established restaurants. The proposed ordinance also includes provisions dealing with parking and noise. At this point, there is no Mandeville ordinance on the books governing food trucks."There's no ordinance, no permit that we can provide, and so we wanted to make sure that we followed all the sanitary measures for DHH (State Department of Health and Hospitals) as far as with the food truck, that we got licensed food trucks," Villere said.Miller and Coffee Rani see Mandeville as an opportunity to expand their business."The food truck allows us to be portable. We can go where we are needed," Miller said.
The Mandeville City Council will look at the measure and determine specific requirements food trucks would have to meet in order to operate inside the city.Keep up with local news, weather and current events with the WDSU app here. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up!

MANDEVILLE, La. —

You don't see mobile food trucks at events, fairs and festivals inside the city limits of Mandeville, but that could soon change.

The City Council is expected to take up an ordinance Thursday at a meeting that will focus on food trucks and their presence in the city.

Advertisement

"Well, I think (it) sounds like a fun idea, as long as they clean up after themselves and put out lots of garbage cans for the people," Christina Rees said as she walked her dog near the Mandeville beach.

"Yes, definitely. Definitely on the special events. We need plenty, plenty trucks," Cindie Cook said as she watched her grandson Clayton enjoy the lakefront playground.

Most people are accustomed to seeing the mobile food trucks at local events, and a handful of local businesses, including a couple of restaurants, would like to have that opportunity in Mandeville.

With outlets in Mandeville and Covington, Coffee Rani operates a mobile food truck from its Covington location. The truck handles everything from school lunches to festivals. They'd like the opportunity to expand into Mandeville.

Lisa Miller manages Cofe Rani in Covington.

"The food truck is a phenomenal vehicle for us," Miller said. "We're able to go to businesses. We went to the parades and we were able, during Mardi Gras, to serve multiple dishes and a lot of people."

"I want to make it clear that this is not an everyday use in Mandeville, that we expect food trucks to come up on the lakefront or any part of Mandeville and start serving food," Mandeville Mayor Donald Villere said. "This is more in conjunction with special events."

Food trucks would not be allowed within 500 feet of established restaurants. The proposed ordinance also includes provisions dealing with parking and noise. At this point, there is no Mandeville ordinance on the books governing food trucks.

"There's no ordinance, no permit that we can provide, and so we wanted to make sure that we followed all the sanitary measures for DHH (State Department of Health and Hospitals) as far as with the food truck, that we got licensed food trucks," Villere said.

Miller and Coffee Rani see Mandeville as an opportunity to expand their business.

"The food truck allows us to be portable. We can go where we are needed," Miller said.

The Mandeville City Council will look at the measure and determine specific requirements food trucks would have to meet in order to operate inside the city.

Keep up with local news, weather and current events with the WDSU app here. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up!